The Red Devils already had Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie at the club before adding the Colombian, and his former boss confused as to why they added another striker. The 29-year-old was on the substitutes’ bench for the Mancunian side’s 2-1 loss to Swansea City on the weekend, and has failed to impress during his stint at Old Trafford.

Jardim said, “I don’t know if he made a mistake to join United. In the last days of August I was thinking Falcao would leave — but I thought he’d go to another club. In England other teams wanted him. But I didn’t think United would be the ones taking him as they had Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney.”

He added, “Maybe they did not need him. It’s my opinion but not my decision to make.”

United have the option to sign the striker for £43.2 million in the summer, but it is looking more and more unlikely that they will not take up this option as Falcao continues to disappoint.